Halfway through the book now, and only started reading yesterday.

It's been described as "a car crash that you can't look away from." And in many ways I think this is a perfect metaphor. I've also read that many people find the crass and disgusting descriptions and events to be "pointless." But I have to disagree. In the same way that a tragic car accident appears to be a pointless and avoidable act of violence, there are reasons for it happening. A driver was drunk, impatient, asleep, distracted etc.

So too is are the acts of cruelty that take place in Lapvona, of which there are no shortage. Moshfegh is a darling writer. She captures so accurately the in-betweens of humanity: the sympathy of the monster, and the demonic desires lurking within all. Lapvona isn't explicit about the message it is trying to convey, because it is easy enough for the reader to determine without some sort of moral being hand-fed to you.

This book is a 5 star so far, but I certainly realize that not everyone will want to read it. If you can stomach the grotesque, this is a story that's hard to take your eyes off of.